[Interaction between hypnotic agents and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocorticotropic axis during surgery]

Abstract

During stress, the relationship between the central nervous system and the immune system is essential to maintain homeostasis. The main neuroendocrine system involved in this interaction is the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA), which via the synthesis of glucocorticoids will modulate the intensity of the inflammatory response. Anaesthetic agents could be interacting with the HPA axis during surgery. Although etomidate currently remains in the center of the discussions, it seems, at least experimentally, that most hypnotics have the capacity to modulate the synthesis of adrenal steroids. Nevertheless, with the large literature on this subject, etomidate seems to be the most deleterious hypnotic agent on the HPA axis function. Its use should be limited when HPA axis is already altered.

Keywords: Agents hypnotiques; Anaesthetic agent; Axe hypothalamo-hypophyso-surrénalien; Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis; Steroids; Stéroïdes.